Stepladder



Jl lne 23, 1953 M, RENFRQ 2,643,045

STEPLADDER Filed April 16, 1951 Julian M. Renfro INVENTOR.

BY M mas Patented June 23, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT orr crz j sirEPLADDER .Tu'iia'ii Renfro, Wheeler, Greg.

This invention relates to an adjustable step construction for a conventional stepladder, the primary object of which is to make it more-com fortable and eflicient for people of varying height to employ a stepladder wherever and whenever needed. V

In most conventional stepladders, the second step is too low and the third step too high for a person of average height, from 3 to 5 8", to comfortably and efficiently mount the ladder. The present adjustable step construction has been primarily designed to overcome this disadvantage by the adjustable assembly of a stepboard between the second and third steps of the conventional stepladder. The use of such a construction will produce descreased fatigue and faster and more efficient work for painters, electricians, housewives and others who regularly use stepladders indoors.

Another important object of this invention is to provide a step construction of the character described which is relatively simple in design and construction, emcient, inexpensive and easy to assemble and adjust upon a conventional stepladder.

These, together with various ancillary objects and features of the invention which will later become apparent as the following description proceeds, are attained by the device, a preferred embodiment of which has been illustrated by way of example only in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the step construction shown assembled upon a conventional stepladder;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary enlarged front elevational view of the same, parts being broken away and shown in section to illustrate details of construction;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on the plane of section line 3--3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the stepboard; and

Figure 5 is a perspective View of the paint can support.

Specific reference is now made to the drawings. In the several views in the accompanying drawings and in the following specification reference characters indicate corresponding elements throughout.

Indicated generally at is a conventional stepladder having a pair of downwardly divergent legs I2 and I4 interconnected by appropriately spaced steps [6. The legs, particularly between the second and third steps, are provided with vertically Application April 16, 1951', Serial No. -221,137

2 Claims. (01. 228*58) spaced and horizontally alignd apertures i9 for a purpose later to appear.

V The present step construction is generally irrdicated at 20 and includes a pair ofbars 22 and 24 which are wedge-shaped and upwardly tapered as shown eleariy in Figures 1 and a and which are secured by appropriate screws 26 to "the surface of the legs l2 and I4 at the position where the apertures l8 are provided in the legs I 2. The bars 22 and 24 are provided with vertically, spaced, horizontally aligned, lateral inwardly extending ledges 28. A stepboard 30 is provided for adjustable retention on a selected pair of horizontally aligned ledges 28.

A means is provided for supporting the stepboard 30 on the selected pair of horizontally aligned ledges to prevent the stepboard from slipping oif the ledges and also to prevent substantial relative movement between the stepboard and the ledges. This means comprises a pair of angle bars 32 secured as at 34 to the undersurface of the stepboard 30 adjacent the opposite ends thereof, each angle bar having a vertically depending leg 36 with a central aperture 38 therethrough. At this point it should be noted that the combined width of the stepboard 30 and the length of the depending leg 36 is substantially equal to the distance between adjacent ledges 28 so that when the stepboard and the angle bar are supported upon a selected pair of ledges, the lower free edge of the depending legs 36 will rest upon the ledges and the upper surface of the stepboard 30 will lightly abut the undersurfaces of the ledges 28 adjacent and immediately above the supporting ledges.

Between the ledges 28, the bars 22 and 24 are provided with vertically spaced apertures 40 which are in horizontal alignment with the apertures 18 in the stepladder legs 12 and I4 and a headed rod 42 is provided which slidably extends through the aligned apertures l8, the aligned apertures 40 and the aligned apertures 38 in the angle brackets 32, the free end of the rod being threaded as at 44 to receive a wing nut 46 which bears against the outer surface of one of the stepladder legs l4 to hold the stepboard 30 securely in place on one selected pair of supporting ledges and prevent the same from slipping off the ladder when in use. Thus, it will be seen that the stepboard may be readily and easily removed and replaced on different selected pairs of horizontally aligned ledges 28 to adjust the space between the steps-of the conventional ladder. The adjustment is easily effected and the stepboard is supported on the ledges in such a way that there is a minimum of rattling or relative movement between the stepboard and the stepladder.

To adjust the vertical position of a paint can on the stepladder, vertically spaced pairs of horizontally aligned eye screws 48 are provided in one or both of the stepladder legs i 2 and [4 depending upon whether the painter is right or left handed. A paint can supporting ledge 50- is provided having an annular rim 52 to prevent the can from slipping ofi the ledge, to the bottom surface of which ledge is secured, by any appropriate means, the horizontal portion 54 of a rod having a vertical portion 56 which is removably received in a selected pair of the vertically spaced eye screws 48, as shown clearly in Figure 1.

In view of the foregoing description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings it is believed that a clear understanding of the device will be quite apparent to those skilled in this art. A more detailed description is accordingly deemed unnecessary. I

It is to be understood, however, that even though there is herein shown and described. a preferred embodiment of the invention, the same is susceptible to certain changes fully comprehended by the spirit of the invention as herein described and the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In a stepladder of a predetermined height comprising a pair of divergingly opposed rails, a plurality of steps disposed between and interconnecting said rails, at least one of said steps being freely insertable and removable, and a pair of brackets on the inner sides of said rails in alignment with each other, said brackets having a plurality of transverse, longitudinally equidistantly spaced keeper seats, said one step being selectivel inserted in one of said seats in each of said brackets.

' 2., The structure defined in claim 1, said brackets being elongated and wedge-shaped in crosssection in the direction of their respective lengths.

JULIAN M. RENFRO.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 

